NEW DELHI/KOLKATA/PATNA: The political drama around the rise of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday threatened to impact Bihar, with the state's ruling JD(U) expected to snap its 17-year-old alliance with the BJP and the impending development triggering talk of a third front ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls.

Even while veteran BJP leader LK Advani is learnt to have spoken to JD(U) stalwarts, the saffron party said it was prepared to sit in the opposition in Bihar.

In Patna, a JD(U) leader indicated that the alliance with the BJP could be over soon.

"Only a formal announcement is to be made for snapping ties with the BJP," said the leader, considered close to Nitish Kumar.

"Till late yesterday (Tuesday) night, a number of party leaders, including ministers, held discussions with Nitish Kumar at his official residence. It was decided to formally announce the end of ties with the BJP in next two to three days," said the leader, who did not want to be named.

Another party leader said JD (U) president Sharad Yadav will arrive in Patna by Thursday or Friday for consultations with party leaders before a formal decision is made public.

JD(U) leader and Bihar minister Shayam Razak told IANS that his party was discussing the issue in view of developments at the BJP conclave in Goa and later in Delhi.

He was referring to the prominent role given to Modi for the 2014 polls and Advani's decision first to resign from his all party posts, and later to stay on bowing to pressure from the party.

Bihar agriculture minister Narendra Singh categorically said Modi was not acceptable to his party as the NDA's prime ministerial candidate.

"We are against being part of the NDA under his leadership," said Singh.

He said Modi was tainted by his involvement in 2002 Gujarat riots, and Advani was more preferred.

Hitting out, the state BJP leaders said they were ready to sit in the opposition in case the alliance ended in Bihar.

"BJP will sit in opposition and play a role of an aggressive opposition," BJP leader and Bihar PHED minister Chandra Mohan Rai told media persons.

While maintaining that its alliance with the JD(U) was intact, BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said it would continue "in the interest of the people of the state and any break in ties will ruin the hopes of the electorate".

"If we work together, we will continue to rule," Hussain said.

The JD(U), which needs the support of 122 legislators in a house of 243 to remain in power in Bihar, has 119 lawmakers.

"Most of the six independent legislators are supporting the party and will extend support to carry on the government," said a party leader.

On the other hand, Advani is learnt to have called Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav and stressed that the two parties should contest the Lok Sabha polls together.

In Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said she has spoken to Nitish Kumar and Naveen Patnaik on her proposal for a federal front. She said Nitish Kumar responded positively, while Patnaik has sought more time.

Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress chief, was speaking after meeting JD(U) leader KC Tyagi at the state secretariat here.

"I have already discussed the matter with Navin Patnaik and Nitish Kumar," Banerjee said after her talks with Tyagi.

In New Delhi, Congress leader and parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath refused to give much "credence" to the proposed new front.

"I don't give much credence to the third front. The country will have a secular government in 2014," Kamal Nath told reporters.

After all they have a monopoly on this tag all duly vested by pseudo intellectuals, media etc

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Media is giving all in to prevent Modi from Delhi, getting lots of money from corrupt govt and infact now, it's not even giving importance to priorities to real news. I see no news channel aggressively covering coal scam. And even vadra issue. Just bitching around BJP, Advani and JDU drama. I was like how pathetically they were covering Goa meeting, they never covered Congress' meet with such idiotic debacle.

Let alone media, if people vote congress for 3rd time, it would be massive slap to democracy. I pity those people and programs trying to show that how India is great, my foot.

JD(U) snapping ties with BJP is bad news for both JD(U) and BJP. This alliance has worked so well, even better than alliances with SAD and SS.@VIP : its a canard. No government at centre can be "unsecular" because then it would be unconstitutional.

JD(U) snapping ties with BJP is bad news for both JD(U) and BJP. This alliance has worked so well, even better than alliances with SAD and SS.@VIP : its a canard. No government at centre can be "unsecular" because then it would be unconstitutional.

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I understand that but now what ?? Do you want Modi as a head of BJP or LKA ?? I simply don't understand why JDU became so obsessed with Modi but not Advani ?? Secularism is total bs. Do you think reason is foreign funding to JDU, this is what JDU's own secretary was saying...

I think that either the people must give a full majority to BJP as congress has lost the people's faith due to the scams and scandals or else UPA will hang in with the help of its allies but there will be a non-congress PM........

Let us see how good the NAMO TRUMP CARD will be played and what results the BJP get from NAMO.......

I understand that but now what ?? Do you want Modi as a head of BJP or LKA ?? I simply don't understand why JDU became so obsessed with Modi but not Advani ?? Secularism is total bs. Do you think reason is foreign funding to JDU, this is what JDU's own secretary was saying...

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JD(U) is scared that

1. They will lose an important votebase in Bihar aka muslim vote
2. BJP might gain a lot of voteshare in Bihar and become perhaps as big as JD(U)
3. BJP under Modi, might not be too accommodating.

How come news paper using the language such as "saffron party" in the article for the main opposite party of largest democracy, don't they have a name for the party.. Just being sikular or congressi mouth piece. Or the news paper itself is owned by chore bhaduyas..

Exactly, BJP+JD(U) in Bihar was the ultimate holy grail in alliance politics, when it comes to the level of understanding between the 2 parties. The synergy between the two showcased itself in governance and was manifested in election performances as well.

Anyway, BJP is only going to get bigger in BIhar, now & JD(U) would be cut to size.

The MBC+EBC+Upper Caste+Mod. Muslim arithmetic woven by Nitish would be unravelled & the resulting fragmentation would benefit Lalu/Paswan/UPA, eventually. So, in the longer run, both parties have only to loose in case ties are snapped.

1. They will lose an important votebase in Bihar aka muslim vote
2. BJP might gain a lot of voteshare in Bihar and become perhaps as big as JD(U)
3. BJP under Modi, might not be too accommodating.

Trying to paint BJP as a radical party.

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That's totally bs. Nitish has personality problem with Modi, he was still there in NDA when 2002 happened. JDU's secretary clearly says it's matter of foreign funding, the sources of funding don't want modi to be elevated and they've put this condition before giving funds. You must have missed the video, did you see that video ?? Muslim vote bank my foot, if JDU split ties with BJP, it will loose badly, it would be foolish to think that they can win muslim votes from Lalu,paswan and even only muslim votes won't be enough to win. It would be wise to remain in NDA because BJP has already showed its power by winning 91 seats only on 40% seats. Votes will swing either way and Modi can be an enzyme factor here for BJP. You can see how badly JDU lost by poll seat. That seatwas with lalu withonly margin of 3000 and now it's 1.5 lacs, at ground level, BJP worked against JDU and that's why upper caste votes swing against JDU. JDU wanted to show tbat it has presence in upper caste,too but it doesn't have.

Exactly, BJP+JD(U) in Bihar was the ultimate holy grail in alliance politics, when it comes to the level of understanding between the 2 parties. The synergy between the two showcased itself in governance and was manifested in election performances as well.

Anyway, BJP is only going to get bigger in BIhar, now & JD(U) would be cut to size.

The MBC+EBC+Upper Caste+Mod. Muslim arithmetic woven by Nitish would be unravelled & the resulting fragmentation would benefit Lalu/Paswan/UPA, eventually. So, in the longer run, both parties have only to loose in case ties are snapped.

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Upper caste is not with JDU, by poll election showed that. BJP worked against JDU and upper caste votes went against JDU. BJP can vouch that it has presence in 91 seats it won but JDU can't say same as Nitish's image is not like before, he's egoistic and Modi can be catalyst for BJP in bihar. Imagine, Modi fights from Patna and wins lol.

This 3rd front talk is totally foolish from JDU. It can't even save govt in state if it splits with BJP. While Mamata, Naveen Patnayak will win in their states but JDU won't. It's wise to remain with BJP.

Upper caste is not with JDU, by poll election showed that. BJP worked against JDU and upper caste votes went against JDU. BJP can vouch that it has presence in 91 seats it won but JDU can't say same as Nitish's image is not like before, he's egoistic and Modi can be catalyst for BJP in bihar. Imagine, Modi fights from Patna and wins lol.

This 3rd front talk is totally foolish from JDU. It can't even save govt in state if it splits with BJP. While Mamata, Naveen Patnayak will win in their states but JDU won't. It's wise to remain with BJP.

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That's exactly what I am saying. Whatever few Upper caste votes Nitish's candidates got, were due to alliance with BJP. On its own, JD(U) cannot even form govt. in Bihar. But they are going to complete this term, without any doubt. They would buy the independents & ensure their continued survival.

I hope NiKu is not committing harakiri by parting ways with BJP - he is a good guy and Bihar needs him.

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Well, IMHO NiKu is not committing harakiri. Harakiri, I believe was reserved for braves (like Samurai) who gave their lives willingly, when they failed to salvage their honour. What NiKu his doing is good ol' & stupid political suicide.

Well, IMHO NiKu is not committing harakiri. Harakiri, I believe was reserved for braves (like Samurai) who gave their lives willingly, when they failed to salvage their honour. What NiKu his doing is good ol' & stupid political suicide.

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BJP could take the Hindu vote, Lallu ji's RJD the Muslim vote and Bihar's development and NiKu could be the losers.